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Brussels isn't too bad, if a little grey and formal looking but as Sean says, you don't have to use Ryan Air to get there and that makes is very appealing in my book.

It's also the transport hub for Belgium, so if you want to travel to Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen, or wherever, you will probably have to pass through it anyway.

If you land in Brussels, you just have to get the underground from the airport to the main train station, then a train to your final destination.

If you fly into Charleroi, you have to get a train to Brussels and then another to wherever you want to go.

"sbillings":uk6hkdp8 wrote: If you fly into Charleroi, you have to get a train to Brussels and then another to wherever you want to go.[/quote:uk6hkdp8]
After John's post about the anywhere-in-Belgium-for-a-tenner ticket, I've been armchair itinerising, and no you don't. If I didn't hate Michael O'Leary to the very core of my being, I'd be sorely tempted. The Dublin-Charleroi timetable sucks too.

Ok, then, where can you get to from Charleroi without passing through Brussels? Anywhere worth visiting?

How about Chimay? Direct train - 1hr 25.
Rochefort: Change at Namur and Jamelle - under 2hrs.

I was thinking Luxembourg, where you use your tenner to get you to Arlon (change at Namur), then another tenner brings you across the border. But I'm probably the only person in the world interested in going to Luxembourg for fun. I should get a discount.

with the same bucnh of lads weve been to brussels. Spent the days rambling around small streets bar hopping. I even managed to convince some bud drinkers to sample local brews.
Another time we went to Dusseldorf and sepnt the day in the brewpubs in the Altstat 90% of us drinking alt and a handful sitting across the road in a mexican bar drinking budwater.
Antwerp sounds good. I was in Gent for the summer festival in July . Friend used live there and said its more couples place alright...